Blockchain Insider Podcast by 11:FS

The death of SegWit2x - what happened, why and what does it mean for bitcoin? How did $160m Eth get locked up in Parity wallets, and why might a fork be the only way to get it out? One of the greatest comebacks in (DLT) history - how could the former bitcoin king Mt. Gox be back in the money? Plus, a new blockchain-based international payments system from R3 and 22 of the world's biggest banks; Bjork accepting cryptocurrency for new album; a token to cryogenically freeze yourself; and, Grayscale Investments announces the launch of a Zcash investment trust. And we bring you two interviews. First, Simon speaks with Michael Casey, advisor, author, speaker and commentator. Next up, we talk to Daniel Cotti, CFO and Bank Partner Relationship, and David Sutter, Head of Platform Strategy, from TradeIX. We hope you enjoy the show and, as ever, don't forget to subscribe. Missing out on the conversation? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or to read more about the news stories and have your say visit fintechinsidernews.com. Special Guests: Daniel Cotti, David Sutter, and Michael Casey. Links: Bitcoin is in Wild Upheaval After The Cancellation of Segwit2x | Fortune Confusion and Euphoria As Bitcoin Cash Tops $30 Billion - CoinDesk Ethereum Security Lead: Hard Fork Required to Release Frozen Parity Funds - CoinDesk ICO Funds Among Millions Frozen In Parity Wallets - CoinDesk Former Bitcoin King Is Bankrupt—And He Could Get Rich Again - WSJ Top banks and R3 build blockchain-based payments system | Article [AMP] | Reuters Pop Star Bjork to Accept Cryptocurrency Payments for New Album - CoinDesk Grayscale Investments Announces Launch of the Zcash Investment Trust Cryogen - YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROLONG LIFE THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE OF CRYONICS TECHNOLOGY. The SAFT Is a Symptom of Regulatory Uncertainty - CoinDesk

First up this week - and what a week - we can confirm that SegWit2x is not going ahead! For more on this story, tune in to next week's episode. In this episode, we focus on the run up to what was nearly the biggest fork of the year. We return to the continuing astronomical rise in bitcoin - up as high as $7,600? So is it a bubble, and does the market need more infrastructure to entice large institutions? In related news, CME Group - the world's largest exchange - have announced that they're going to introduce bitcoin futures. The guys also discuss what SegWit2x will mean (or would have meant?) for the future of bitcoin. And will Bitcoin miners really consume as much electricity as the annual consumption of Nigeria? Is bitcoin really that power consuming or is it actually changing how we consume power? And we talk to Volodymyr Panchenko, founder and CEO of DMarket.io, and Alexander Kokhanovskyy, founder and CEO of DreamTeam, about their fascinating applications of DLT to e-sports. Also on this week's show: why Celebrity ICOs might become illegal; Colin wrote a long thing (derivatives clearing on distributed ledgers); the latest of Alex Tapscott and the NextBlock fund; Colin uses the words "willy-nilly" in a sentence; and much, much more. Don't forget, this episode is sponsored by ZILLA, a new ICO marketplace app. Browse ICOs, upvote or downvote so the good ones rise to the top and, if you like an ICO, participate with one-click! Pre-register for the limited ZILLA beta app at ZLA.io/bi. We hope you enjoy the show and, as ever, don't forget to subscribe. Missing out on the conversation? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or to read more about the news stories and have your say visit fintechinsidernews.com. Special Guests: Alexander Kokhanovskyy and Volodymyr Panchenko. Links: Bitcoin Hits $7,000 as Wall Street Interest Gets Real - WSJ CME Group Announces Launch of Bitcoin Futures Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein: I'm Open to Bitcoin - CoinDesk Understanding Segwit2x: Why Bitcoin's Next Fork Might Not Mean Free Money - CoinDesk One Bitcoin Transaction Now Uses as Much Energy as Your House in a Week - Motherboard Shell, BP Among Energy Giants to Back Blockchain Trading Platform - CoinDesk SEC: Celebrity ICO Endorsements Could Be Illegal - CoinDesk Alex Tapscott's Crypto VC Firm Going Public With $100M CAD Falsely Touted 4 Blockchain Stars As Advisors CIBC Walks From Tapscott's NextBlock Global After Falsehoods Revealed; More Misrepresentations Found Alex Tapscott's Crypto VC Firm Aborts Public Listing, Will Return Money After Falsehoods Revealed Tezos Faces Class-Action Suit Alleging Unregistered Sale of Securities, False Representations - ETHNews.com Implementing derivatives clearing on distributed ledger technology platforms » Banking Technology World Food Programme's ethereum-based blockchain for Syrian refugees in Jordan — Quartz India’s Largest Bank Goes Big on Blockchain Russia is going all in on bitcoin — and everyone’s got a theory – VICE News DEUTSCHE BANK: End of fiat money - Business Insider ‘If you follow us you will make money’: how bitcoin is marketed to the masses

First up on today's show, Simon and Colin tackle "tulip mania" and other common misconceptions about crypto assets. Bitcoin has hit yet another all time high - but is the price the key figure or should we be focusing on the growth in use and user numbers instead? We also talk boomer biases - send us your favourites. Next up, Iran has announced it is preparing to adopt Bitcoin for use in the country. Will we see a geopolitical shift, and how might it influence Bitcoin's reputation? Why are startups struggling to get bank accounts in the UK? The FCA Sandbox's Lessons Learned report points out that startups, particularly DLT startups, are often can't secure banking services. So is it time for a more nuanced approach by the big banks? Colin analyses the AMF's approach to ICOs, folowing their announcement of project UNICORN. If you missed it, check out Simon's blog on a best practice framework for token sales. And can blockchain revolutionise the coffee supply chain? Colin explains how, with the help of Shoreditch and hipsters. So is this another contrived blockchain application? Or, in an increasingly environmentally-conscious world, where authenticity and provenance are key, is this a real step forward? Breaking - we've unearthed the key to increasing your share price by 400% in one day...add the word Blockchain to your company name! We look at the story of On-Line Blockchain Plc. Also in today's show, Simon talks to Jeff Bandman about testifying to the SEC on Bitcoin and ICOs. And Colin catches up with Stephen Palley on his rather strong thoughts about Tezos. Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoy the show. As ever, don't forget to subscribe, and please do leave us a review on iTunes. Missing out on the conversation? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or to read more about the news stories and have your say visit fintechinsidernews.com. Special Guests: Jeff Bandman and Stephen Palley. Links: Worse Than Tulip Mania? Common Misconceptions About Crypto Assets - CoinDesk Government of Iran Is Preparing to Adopt Bitcoin for Use Inside the Country | Finance Magnates BTC to DLT: Why Aren't Banks Giving Blockchain Startups Accounts? - CoinDesk L’AMF lance une consultation sur les Initial Coin Offerings et initie son programme UNICORN - AMF French Regulator Launches 'UNICORN' ICO Support Project - CoinDesk Bext360: How Blockchain Can Revolutionize Coffee Supply Chain This Company Added the Word ‘Blockchain’ to Its Name and Saw Its Shares Surge 394% - Bloomberg This is the dumbest thing we’ve seen in a long time. When’s the crash? | FT Alphaville Hong Kong, Singapore sign fintech deal, will collaborate on blockchain

First up on this week’s show, Bitcoin keeps marching on, and it seems institutional money is behind its buoyancy. BlackRock, LedgerX, Wall Street - why it’s good news that everyone’s got an opinion on Bitcoin right now. The guys also dissect the Tezos story and ask: is it possible to raise too much money? With speculation that Tezos attracted nearly $300 million under a foundation model in Switzerland, the guys discuss how the situation will unfold. Meanwhile, with news that the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has aligned itself with the SEC in determining that ICOs can be commodities, are we seeing an emerging consensus towards blockchain in the US? Plus, we have a guest appearance from Fintech Insider’s Sam Maule, who caught up with Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, at Swell – Ripple’s payments conference – last week. Also on today’s show – how £11 trillion in derivatives is getting closer to the Blockchain; why Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella challenged Swift to build useful Blockchain applications; R3’s patent application; mining for charity; and much more. We hope you enjoy the show and, as ever, don't forget to subscribe. Missing out on the conversation? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or to read more about the news stories and have your say visit fintechinsidernews.com. Special Guest: Brad Garlinghouse. Links: Quiet Surge: Bitcoin Price Sets New High Above $6,000 - CoinDesk BlackRock Strategist: There's No 'Right or Wrong' Price for Bitcoin - CoinDesk LedgerX Trades $1 Million in Bitcoin Derivatives in First Week - CoinDesk Subscribe to read Special Report: Backroom battle imperils $230 million cryptocurrency venture The Path Forward – ArthurB – Medium Refund for the Tezos ICO - Restis Law Firm, P.C. Case » Block & Leviton LLP CFTC Aligns With SEC: ICO Tokens Can Be Commodities - CoinDesk DTCC Milestone: $11 Trillion in Derivatives Gets Closer to the Blockchain - CoinDesk Microsoft CEO Challenges Swift: Build 'Useful' Blockchain Applications - CoinDesk R3 Files Patents for 'Dynamic' DLT Recordkeeping - CoinDesk Donate Your Tab MIT Issues Diplomas Using the Bitcoin Blockchain

This week Bitcoin has gone the the moon! So what's the story behind its new all time high price? And how might the long courtship between Wall Street and Bitcoin have played a part in the story? The guys take a look at the JP Morgan messaging on Bitcoin, including Jamie Dimon's views. We cover news from both Swell and Sibos, the pseudonymous nature of Bitcoin and how SWIFT intend to respond to the changing payments landscape. PLus, how is IBM using cryptocurrency in cross-border payments? Colin explains why open blockchains might be the canary in the coalmine and, while the People's Bank of China Digital Currency Director calls for a centralised state cryptocurrency, Simon asks whether it's really possible to have a true cryptocurrency that's centralised. Plus, what can all this mean for a possible CryptoRuble? We return to the story of the legal battle between R3 and Ripple to find out who's in the ascendancy, and the guys discuss how Digital Asset Holdings intend to use the $40m series B funding they raised recently. And of course, we also revisit Segwit2x for an update on its progress, and discuss Ethereum's own Byznatium fork. Plus, interviews with Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director of the Hyperledger Project within the Linux Foundation, and Paul Worrall, founder of Zonafide. We hope you enjoy the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Want to join the conversation on all the topics discussed? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or read more about the news stories and add your own thoughts at fintechinsidernews.com. And if you really love the show, why not leave us a review on iTunes? Special Guests: Brian Behlendorf and Paul Worrall. Sponsored By: Links: $5,800: Bitcoin Price Hits New Record High - CoinDesk This Is the Week Wall Street Went Nuts Over Cryptocurrencies - Bloomberg JPMorgan's Dimon betting on blockchain even as he calls bitcoin stupid JPMorgan CFO dials back Dimon's bitcoin criticism | Article [AMP] | Reuters Bernanke at Ripple Event: Blockchain Has 'Obvious' Benefits in Payments - CoinDesk Sibos Highlights Swift's Complicated Relationship With Blockchain - CoinDesk IBM's Stellar Move: Tech Giant Uses Cryptocurrency in Cross-Border Payments - CoinDesk PBoC Digital Currency Director Calls for Centralized State Cryptocurrency - CoinDesk Russia may soon issue its own official blockchain-based currency, the CryptoRuble | TechCrunch R3 And Ripple’s Legal Battle To Move To San Francisco And New York - ETHNews.com Digital Asset raises $40M for its blockchain-based financial platform - SiliconANGLE BitGo is a weird company : Bitcoin (1) Jameson Lopp on Twitter: "Dear anonymous coward who just sent dozens of cops w/ rifles to my house w/a false hostage situation report: I am not so easily intimidated." SegWit2x NYA Status Coin Dance | SegWit2x Blocks (historical) Summary Are Public Blockchain Systems Unlicensed Money Services Businesses in Disguise? – Rules of the Game Ethereum Executes Byzantium Blockchain Software Upgrade - CoinDesk A house has been bought on the blockchain for the first time | New Scientist Someone Just Lost $70,000 in a Failed ICO Purchase Attempt New cryptocurrency finds unlikely fan in Harry Redknapp | Technology | The Guardian

This week Simon and Colin crunch through all the week's top news. Why's everyone talking about SegWit2x, when will it happen and what does it mean for the future of bitcoin? Switzerland looks set to remain 'crypto valley' with talk of a code of conduct for ICOs. The guys talk security in bitcoin exchanges and why "those regulators gonna regulate". And with news that HMRC has built a blockchain proof of concept for the UK border, we discuss whether this is an efficiency no-brainer, or the precursor to a dystopian, crypto-enabled future. The database giant Oracle has unveiled its enterprise blockchain platform, but will this solution cannibalise its existing business? We also hear from Scott Nelson at Sweetbridge on expanding the definition of liquidity, and Abasa Phillips from Zilla to tell us about their new platform to invest in ICOs. And finally, wtf - what the Fetchcoin?! Whether its brilliantly conceived satire or a credible venture, you decide - let us know what you think! We hope you enjoy the show and, as ever, don't forget to subscribe. Missing out on the conversation? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or to read more about the news stories and have your say visit fintechinsidernews.com. Special Guests: Abasa Phillips and Scott Nelson. Links: Bitcoin.org Operators Aim to 'Denounce' Segwit2x Participants - Bitcoin News ICO Central: Why Switzerland Will Remain Crypto Valley - CoinDesk ADGM | ABU DHABI GLOBAL MARKET SETS OUT GUIDANCE ON INITIAL COIN OFFERINGS AND VIRTUAL CURRENCIES Chaos and hackers stalk investors on cryptocurrency exchanges HMRC builds blockchain proof of concept for UK border Oracle's Entrance: Database Giant Unveils Enterprise Blockchain Strategy - CoinDesk Fetch Coins — Secure Blockchain Startup Circle To Launch Open Source Project To Send Money Like Email And Text Dragonchain ICO Seeks to Commercialize Disney’s Blockchain Project - CryptoCoinsNews Uncensorable Wikipedia on IPFS Gamifying the Delivery of Money – Hacker Noon

In this episode: Simon, Colin and special guest Frank Schuil CEO and co-founder of Safello break down the last week's headlines including: The latest on the traditional finance vs crypto-currencies saga, with Christine Lagarde, the head of the IMF speaking out about Bitcoin, We look at what South Korea, Singapore, Australia & the SEC have to say about ICOs, not to mention DJ Khaled! We also bring you 2 fantastic interviews from Yazan Barghuthi of Jibrel Network, and Jennifer Peve of the DTCC, and we speak to Adam Furgal from r3 about their recent announcements. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Want to join the conversation on all the topics discussed? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or read more about the news stories and add your own thoughts at fintechinsidernews.com. If you really love the show, why not leave us a review on iTunes? Special Guests: Adam Furgal, Frank Schuil, Jennifer Peve, and Yazan Barghuthi. Links: Bitcoin Ethereum: IMF Head Says Cryptocurrency Could Be the Future | Fortune Goldman Sachs Explores a New World: Trading Bitcoin - WSJ Japan’s big banks plan digital currency launch Japan Issues Licenses for 11 Bitcoin Exchanges - CoinDesk SAFT Arrives: 'Simple' Investor Agreement Aims to Remove ICO Complexities - CoinDesk New SEC Cyber Unit to Police ICOs and Other DLT 'Violations' - CoinDesk South Korea bans all new cryptocurrency sales Initial coin offerings | ASIC - Australian Securities and Investments Commission Ethereum: DJ Khaled Endorses Cryptocurrency ICO on Instagram | Fortune As Founder Faces Possible Jail Time, An Inside Look At LydianCoin, Paris Hilton-Endorsed Cryptocurrency Ex-Fortress Billionaire: Crypto Market Will Be 'Largest Bubble of Our Lifetimes' - CoinDesk It's Political: Why China Hates Bitcoin and Loves the Blockchain - CoinDesk

In this episode: We bring you the second part of our series of Interviews from Blockchain Live, including Sam Chadwick from Thomson Reuters, Gemma Milne, journalist and podcast host of Science: Disrupt; and Kaspar Korjus from the Estonian Republic. Simon and Colin break down the latest news from the last week including: Jamie Dimon has more to say about Bitcoin, but is he a HODLer? Study finds that most Ethereum transactions are just trying to hide Ether Tim Swanson bears witness to all the sins in crypto-land in his latest blog post. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Want to join the conversation on all the topics discussed? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or read more about the news stories and add your own thoughts at fintechinsidernews.com. If you really love the show, why not leave us a review on iTunes? Special Guests: Gemma Milne, Kaspar Korjus, and Sam Chadwick. Links: ASIC's data strategy 2017-20 Huge Ethereum Mixer – cyber • Blog Jamie Dimon Goes On The Attack On Bitcoin | Business Insider Bitcoin: JPMorgan Chase boss Jamie Dimon faces market abuse report after his comments about bitcoin | City A.M. Dimon Knocks Bitcoin Again: Crackdown Likely on 'Worthless' Cryptocurrency - CoinDesk Eight Things Cryptocurrency Enthusiasts Probably Won’t Tell You | Great Wall of Numbers Russian Prosecutor's Office Summons Burger King for Issuing Cryptocurrency - Bitcoin News SEC.gov | SEC Announces Enforcement Initiatives to Combat Cyber-Based Threats and Protect Retail Investors Could Bitcoin help Venezuela in crisis? - Crypto Insider - Bitcoin and Blockchain News

In this episode: Simon takes us through the week's top stories including BTCC ceasing trading in China; John McAffee's challenge on Jamie Dimon; and Vitalik Buterin's claim we're in an ICO bubble. Also: we ain't saying he a gold digger - but Jamie Foxx promotes a currency exchange ICO. We also have some fantastic interviews recorded at Blockchain Live in London, including Brendan Blumer and Dan Larimer from Block One, all about their EOS platform. Simon also speaks to Eva Kaili, MEP, about her role as Chair of the European Parliament's Science and Technology Options Assessment body (STOA). We will have more insights from Blockchain Live next week! We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Want to join the conversation on all the topics discussed? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or read more about the news stories and add your own thoughts at fintechinsidernews.com. If you really love the show, why not leave us a review on iTunes? Special Guests: Brendan Blumer, Dan Larimer, and Eva Kaili. Links: BTCC to Cease China Trading as Media Warns Closures Could Continue - CoinDesk AXA Is Using Ethereum's Blockchain for a New Flight Insurance Product - CoinDesk John McAfee challenges Jamie Dimon's bitcoin skepticism Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin: We Are in an ICO Bubble | Finance Magnates Ethereum will match Visa in scale in a ‘couple of years’ says founder | TechCrunch R3, UK regulator and banks team up on blockchain-based mortgage reporting CoinDesk on Twitter: "Actor Jamie Foxx Promotes Cryptocurrency Exchange ICO https://t.co/v97duvguNc https://t.co/cFRUvJjgvd"

Simon and Colin take you through the madness that is this week's news including: China bans bitcoin, again! Tax Exemptions for bitcoin exchanges - does taxing them make them more real? As Japan launches major bitcoin mining centre, we ask if Japan is not bitcoin's untold story of the year, and Simon shares his views on JP Morgan chief exec Jamie Dimon stating that bitcoin is all fraud. We also speak to Matt Spoke fro the Aion Network following their latest release. All this and more on this week's show. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Want to join the conversation on all the topics discussed? Tweet the show @bchaininsider or read more about the news stories and add your own thoughts at fintechinsidernews.com. If you really love the show, why not leave us a review on iTunes? Special Guest: Matt Spoke.

In this episode: Simon and Colin and special guest, Fintech Insider and 11:FS' Jason Bates, break down the top news stories of the week including: -The PBOC declares ICOs illegal Crypto markets tumble 20% as a result Messenger app Kik raises funds to launch an ICO for its own currency, the kin. And… Paris Hilton launches an ICO They also debate why it is that bitcoin is currently considered a no-go zone by big banks? Then Simon catches up with ICO lawyer and token expert Patrick Murck for his thoughts on token sales, ICOs and the Chinese rulings making headlines this week. And finally - let us know which celebrity you'd trust most if they endorsed an ICO - Tweet us @bchaininsider or drop us a line at [email protected]. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Special Guests: Jason Bates and Patrick Murck. Links: | China Outlaws ICOs: Financial Regulators Order Halt on Token Trading Kik raises $50 million ahead of token sale for its cryptocurrency Kin | VentureBeat | Commerce | by Khari Johnson | Hotel Heiress Paris Hilton Is the Latest Celebrity to Promote an ICO

In this episode: Simon, Colin and guests Kadhim Shubber and break down the top news stories of the last week including: Bitcoin Segwit upgrade goes live While Ethereum’s upgrade could still be a long wait More regulators opine on tokens -And Burger King launches its own cryptocurrency We also have some fantastic interviews including: Andrew Chapin of Benja, talking about the BenjaCoin and proactively working with regulators; and Taylor Monahan of MyEtherWallet about the industry trends, and scam prevention. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! Get in touch with us on Twitter @bchaininsider, and we'd also love it if you could leave us a review on iTunes! Special Guests: Andrew Chapin, Kadhim Shubber, and Richard Burton. Links: SegWit Goes Live: Why Bitcoin's Big Upgrade Is a Blockchain Game-Changer - CoinDesk Middle America Is Crazy in Love With Bitcoin - NBC News Burger King Russia launches cryptocurrency called WhopperCoin WhopperCoin | FT Alphaville Ethereum's 'Metropolis' Upgrade Could Still Be Months Away - CoinDesk Bank of America Files 9 More Blockchain Patent Applications - CoinDesk Canadian Regulators: 'Many' ICO Tokens Meet Securities Definition - CoinDesk China's New Fundraising Rules Could Lead to ICO Investigations - CoinDesk SEC Suspends Trading of Publicly Listed Bitcoin Firm - CoinDesk

In this episode: Simon, Colin and guests Steve Webb and Hadi Kabalan break down the top news stories of the last week including: Bitcoin Cash hits $1000, then quickly returns to $600! The first bond on blockchain IOTA the Internet of Things “Blockchain” announces flash channels And we have some top class interviews including: lawyer Stephen Palley about whether or not ICOs are legal, and what you should bear in mind if you're considering setting one up; then we speak to Blocksure's Ranvir Saggu and Joseph Goulden about their Ethereum-based Insurance project. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and we'd also love it if you could leave us a review on iTunes! Special Guests: Hadi Kabalan, Stephen Palley, and Steve Webb. Links: Bitcoin Cash Price Nears $1,000 as Breakout Continues - CoinDesk What was the Bitcoin fork and what is Bitcoin Cash? - 11:FS Bitcoin Bond Debuted by Japan's Fisco - Bloomberg IOTA Unveils Flash Network, Allowing for true Nanopayments Hackers nab $500,000 as Enigma is compromised weeks before its ICO | TechCrunch

As Bitcoin makes new highs, surpassing $4000 over the week, we look into the stories behind cryptocurrencies, tokens and DLTs. In this week's show we cover: Filecoin overtakes Tezos for the largest crowdfunding ever, topping $250m in just one hour Not to be outdone, Tezos announces a series of updates including its upcoming $50m VC fund Microsoft goes all in on Ethereum, launching the Coco framework, while Vitalik Buterin and Joseph Poon release details of the Plasma scalability project. Top cryptocurrency exchange, Bitfinex, reduces services for US customers, including for tokens And, Twitter CEO and Square Founder Jack Dorsey calls Bitcoin and Blockchain the ‘next big unlock’ We have an exclusive interview from Jennifer O'Rourke of the Illinois Blockchain Initiative, all about the work that they're doing, and we also hear from Stefano Bernardi on his views on token sales and ICO investment. We hope you're enjoying the show - don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and we'd also love it if you could leave us a review on iTunes! Special Guests: Jennifer O'Rourke, Sara Feenan, and Stefano Bernardi. Links: Chicago Blockchain Center The Illinois Blockchain Initiative – Medium 🌡️ TE #9: Plasma, Filecoin ICO, Coinbase Series D, Decentralized Twitter, Tezos VC fund & more

In this episode: Simon and Colin break down: high profile bankers leaving for cryptocurrency startups, The Chicago Board of Exchange announces that it will launch Bitcoin Futures, and ICO funding tops half a billion dollars in the month of July and 1.6Bn this year. Zeth Couceiro, expert recruiter in the blockchain space, makes his debut on the show giving his top tips on how to get a job in blockchain. They also look back at the first week of Bitcoin Cash since the bitcoin fork and discuss the impact on the price and the network with Chris Burniske. Special Guests: Chris Burniske and Zeth Couceiro.

In another packed episode Simon and Colin discuss the latest news in the industry including the arrest of Alexander Vinnik and seizure of Bitcoin exchange BTC-e; Ethereum miners chartering jumbo jets and of course the Bitcoin split - and we have a comment from crypto expert Chris Burniske to get his take on what just happened and what the impact of the split will be. We also have two fantastic interviews, starting with Dr Gideon Greenspan who’s behind Multichain and Coinsciences and Reto Trinkler, CEO of of MelonPort about the Melon Protocol. Enjoy the show! Tell your friends and please do leave us a review on iTunes. Special Guests: Chris Burniske, Gideon Greenspan, and Reto Trinkler.

Colin and Simon are joined by author Chris Burniske for the news. They cover the top stories rocking the blockchain and cryto space right now, kicking off with the Parity hack last week, which has as many twists and turns as a heist movie after $32M Ethereum was stolen, and a whitehat group attempted to hack it back and return the stolen money. Was this ethical? What is the impact of this? Colin, Simon and Chris try to make sense of it all. They also discuss the bitcoin scaling problem, resulting in a hard fork of bitcoin and a divide in viewpoint of the bitcoin community, and finally, the breaking news of the SEC's verdict on DAO ICOs and tokens and get an exclusive interview from Jeff Bandman in reaction to this. We also have an interview with Richard Brown, CTO of R3 all about the work that they do, and specifically about Corda. Guests: Chris Burniske - Author: Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor's Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond Richard Brown - CTO, R3 Jeff Bandman - Principal, Bandman Advisors and former Founding Director and architect, LabCFTC

This week Simon and guests talk through a guy holding up a “Buy Bitcoin” sign who gets $15,000 donated as a result, the developments in “DLT” and corporate Blockchain, Revolut's integration of bitcoin, and will Mauritius really become "Ether Island", the new go-to place for cryptocurrencies? Later on he chats to Meltem Demoirs from Digital Currency Group about what's hot in blockchain, what is a token, and women in blockhain. Guests: Ajit Tripathi - Director, Disruptive Technologies, PwC Jeff Bandman - Principal, Bandman Advisors and former Founding Director and architect, LabCFTC Paul Gordon - Co-founder, Quantave & Director, Coinscrum Melten Demirors - Director, Digital Currency Group Like what you heard? Don't forget to subscribe, review us on iTunes or contact us - [email protected] Special Guest: Ajit Tripathi.

We talk Governments getting into Blockchain - will regulation be led by China and Singapore?, cryptocurrencies finally being taken seriously by banks, governments and regulating bodies - and then conversely, the fear of missing out now has its own coin! And later in the show we talk to William Mougayar - the author, expert and speaker on all things Tokens and Blockchain! He tells us how he got into blockchain, where he sees the industry going, his view on token sales and the million dollar question: are we in a bubble? Special Guest: William Mougayar.

In this episode: Today we will talk about the ongoing token madness, the importance of the state of Delaware, followed by some Blockchain news, including the importance of bitcoin in both the sale of marijuana and related and unrelated transaction security. In the second part of the show we have two interviews with some fantastic guests - first up: Arthur and Kathleen Brietman, the founders of Tezos, about one of the most exciting token sales happening. They are followed by Stefan Thomas the CTO of famous start-up Ripple, the global settlement network, who discusses (among other things) the importance of protocols and the rise and investment in interledgers. Like what you heard? Don't forget to subscribe, review us on iTunes or contact us - [email protected] Special Guests: Arthur Breitman, Kathleen Breitman, and Stefan Thomas.

As crypto currency interest and prices reach an all time high Simon and Colin bring you the first of a three part special on Blockchain. We delve into the hurricane of news that surfaced this week talking all time high prices, Bitcoin's effect on national security and the CFTC's foray into the blockchain. In our second half tokens and ICO's are on the table as we explain what exactly an ICO is, what tokens are, what industries are reacting and why you should be paying attention. Special Guests: Euros Evans and Kadhim Shubber.

In the third of our three part Blockchain Special, Simon and Colin are joined by some very special guests to discuss EEA, ZCash and the potential similarities between blockchain and the rise of cryptocurrencies and the dot-com bubble in the 90s, and asks the question: “Why should we be paying attention?”. They also debate the anonymity of blockchain and user privacy; and centralisation vs decentralisation in blockchain APIs - do we still need the middle man? In the second half they discuss highly topical news stories such as the EU’s pledge to invest in blockchain research and Theresa May’s proposal for greater internet security and access to public data - is she asking for the impossible? Special Guest: Jack Gavigan.

Part 2 of our Blockchain Special, Simon and Colin with a roster of fascinating guests focus on the recent Consensus conference. We cover what the conference is, who should be attending and where it means to the industry. We give you a crash course on the difference between cryptocurrencies and DLT, what the main impacts ledger technology will have on banks and what is causing the major spikes in crypto currency prices right now. Special Guests: Ajit Tripathi, Ghela Boskovich, and Jeremy Millar.